Door of Bruises

Thornchapel #4

by Sierra Simone

𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐠𝐨, 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬.
We are all, for better or worse, doomed to love each other until death do us part. My heart belongs to Proserpina and St. Sebastian—even if he no longer wants it. Even if she has left it behind to follow him.
Delphine’s fled back home, and Becket’s holy calling is in peril.
And now only Rebecca and I remain at Thornchapel to face the unknown.
The door is open. The door that shouldn’t exist; the door that people have died to close. I don’t feel like the lord of the manor...I don’t feel like a king or a wild god. I am a friend and a boyfriend and a brother—and a failure at being all of these things. But the door doesn’t care about my guilt. It only cares about the sacrifice I’ll make to close it.
As the bruising dark of Samhain approaches, so does the fate of our circle, of Thornchapel and the village and the valley beyond it. And I must don the crown, because one thing is still true, even if I must face it alone.
𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐥, 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐞.

Genres: Romance, BDSM, Fantasy, Contemporary, Erotica, Menage, LGBT

448 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 30, 2020

Reviews

[✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

↑ These are the six young people this series is about. ↑

They've known each other since that summer they spent together as kids at Auden's family's estate in England - their parents were friends ... or something.☺
Now, twelve years later we're back at that house.

And that's all I'm going to tell you about this final book - well that's not even about this book! That was part of my review from book #1. But I just can't tell you much more about this!

Well maybe a tiny bit. We all remember how the last book ended. Basically everybody left and now it's only Auden and Rebecca left at Thornchapel.

And we also know that there might not be a happy end for all of our darlings - because of that studid legend of the door and the king and someone has to die and whatnot - you remember, right?

I was really scared going into this.

It takes our six darlings the whole book and lots of research and very sexy sexy times and discussions and dramatics and whatnots until we finally ... well, that's definitely all I'm telling you ... LOL☺ READ IT!

After reading this final book ... I still have to say that this is a
WTF-KIND-OF-AMAZING-SH*T-HAVE-I-JUST-READ series.
So different than all the other books out there.

It's Beautiful. Adorable. Heartbreaking. MUCHO EROTIC. Mysterious. Queer. Kinky. Amazing. Weird. Historic. Strange. Paranormal. Wow. And so much more! It's basically ALL THE ADJECTIVES!!!

Grab a mug of hot chocolate and read this. Or better yet - read all the books in one sitting!
You might want to hire someone to bring you all the snacks and beverages though!

It was a tiny bit too ... not really sure. I just wanted a bit more. No idea what exactly. I liked the ending and everything.... but it could've been better and more - for the reader, but especially for our darlings inside the book. ☺

... I'm pretty sure Netflix is already waiting 'round the corner to grab this series!!! But if not, then someone has to call them asap!!! ☺ This would be so good as a tv show! All those hot boys and gals! GIMMEE!!




💜 💜

[Shabby -BookBistroBlog · Rating 5 out of 5]

An abundance of riches in literary treasure, one that I didn't want to come to an end. Most writers stories are immediately and speedily devoured cause they're highly sought after.
Sierra stories are meant to be savoured, read slowly, because the journey is part of the prize. Sometimes I forgot what chapter was on, the words glittered like jewels and bedazzled me.
I learnt of many ancient rituals, was enriched in history and religion. Even though this expansive story is coming to an end, the characters will stay with me forever. The end was NOT WHAT I WAS EXPECTING!!
The door opens ominously, devours, inhales and disappears and I was left stunned in stupor in the thorny garden, looking around...WHAT DID JUST HAPPEN?!
5 stars for Benediction. Blessing. Convivificat
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[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Sometimes even kings need to kneel.”

Should you write a book review when you are still high on the book?

I think probably not, but some of my favourite past reviews are the ones done when I’m in the moment. And right now, I am in that moment.

Reading, for me, is about the imprint a book leaves on your heart and your soul. You can read lots of books that come and go. They are fleeting; enjoyable in the now. Then there are the books you know will stay with you. Like this one.

Every antler horn will take me there. Every bruise coloured rose. Library shelves. Cherry printed bathing suits. Pouty boys wearing peacoats. They will take me back to Thornchapel. Back to the characters who have become friends that I care deeply about. I’ve become so invested in their lives that I’m hurting that it’s ended. My beautiful Thornchapel Six.

I always find Sierra Simone’s writing style amazing. I love how she changes parts of the story from first person to third person. It’s like those are the parts that you have to look at through a different lens. They feel like an out of body experience. One minute I’m there in the story and the next I’m watching it all unfold before me. It’s completely fascinating how she does it and how well it works.

My favourite bits:

“Once upon a time, when I was seventeen and full of crimson misery and livid hurt, I came upon a flower in the thorn chapel.”

“No matter what eternities pass, no matter how many times the door opens and shuts, you’ll always be mine.”

This final book in the series is an emotional ride. I’m utterly gobsmacked. Great series. I’m crying rose petal tears.

[PP's Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes in my reader life, I come across stories those make me feel I am unworthy of such genius. So much is the depth and diversity and impact of the story. Thornchapel series and its magnanimous ending, Door of Bruises is such a creation by Sierra Simone. An intricate, surreal and otherworldly tale woven into my very heart, soul and body. The rich texture of ancient religion, myths and rituals got enhanced by the all consuming, soul shattering and lustful love stories. Sierra Simone's best work and one of most epic series I have ever read. I may have closed the book but the tendrils of Thornchapel's magic is lingering in my bones. And I think it will do so forever.

This review is going to be very short. Because I really cannot tell you anything without ruining it for you. Five friends. Priest Becket. Dreamer and librarian Proserpina. Dominatrix landscape architect Rebecca. Socialite Delphine. Brooding St. Sebastian. And lord of the house Auden Guest. Their lives got entangled in Thornchapel's vicious and inescapable hold. A secret door is open. It has to close. And a sacrifice need to be made.

There so many parallel and interconnected dynamics. They do have this dark, depraved, sinful and filthy connection. But it's not physical only. It's spiritual. So as we try to solve the cold ominous mystery of the door, the characters go through their own investigations. About their feelings. Needs. Identity. And Sierra Simone just surpassed every level of genius during the adventures and exploration. This story is all about savouring and relishing. The pain. The ache. The suspense. The fear. The passion. To become one with this story.

Stories end. But some stories stay forever in hearts. Door of Bruises by Sierra Simone left a trail of visceral, exquisite and life changing emotions in my heart. It will be next to impossible to beat this level of genius by Sierra Simone.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

[Amour.Rebelle92 (Bran.d) · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘We are all of us bound together by thorns. We are all of us a family like the world has never seen.’<
‘What unites the two halves of me? What joins the teeth in the night to the tenderness, the love, the sacrifice? It can only be a humble heart.’<
Door of Bruises brings us on quite a journey of self discovery. Auden, Poe & Becket all truly will go to any length to save their friends and feel it is their own burden to do so. Rebecca has to decide if she wants to live her life alone or if she can forgive Delphine (who decides she wants more than just a mistress). Saint...has to make his choice-blind faith & love or be alone with glimpses of happiness.

Sierra did a phenomenal job of working things out for everyone and closing the Door.

#candikanepr

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sierra Simone is a cruel mistress and I am completely, utterly ensorcelled and devastated. To worship at the altar of her words is to know the hurt that heals, the heart that yearns, the soul that seethes with forbidden appetites. Thornchapel is a cathedral to all that is Sierra Simone. She is a sorceress, pushing the boundaries of what is taboo and transforming them. The pagan and profane become an ecstatic form of erotic worship. The pain a balm for the battered heart.

Door of Bruises is the gripping finale of the Thornchapel quartet, and an absolute masterpiece. The waking dream of the Thorn King and his court continues, as we travel deeper into the labyrinth and the glittering dreams of summer turn to a swirling fog of dread so visceral it rattles your bones. The door has opened and our King is called to serve. The undertow drags them under as the veil thins and the wheel of the year turns unceasingly to Samhain.

Love and lead
Leave or bleed
The key is sacrifice in deed.

Omni fini initium novem.

Thornchapel is the rare story that I devoutly wish I could experience for the first time all over again. To savor and relish every feeling again. Tonight I will dream of Thonchapel again.

#TopReadOf2020
#IfMyIdWereaBook
#WTFDidIJustRead
#StockUpOnBourbonAndBatteries

[AtenRa · Rating 2 out of 5]

1st re-read
I admit, I didn't like the ending when I first read Door of Bruises. I felt it was not well thought out and a bit cringe, to be honest. I still feel the same after the re-read. I would have much rather preferred for Auden and Saint to stay together until the end of their days, and Poe to have sacrificed herself and crossed the door and stayed there. The end. It would be prefect for her, so that her character could fiiiinally serve a purpose. No offence to Poe, but I think that Simone fell so in love with Auden and Saint, that Poe just seemed like an obstacle in the end, at least to me.
I also hated hated hated the fact that the incest thing was never resolved. You can't just add something explosive like that and leave it hanging, it just doesn't work for me.
That said, DoB has the sexiest scene in the series, and the smuttiest I think I've ever read (MMMF, Auden's living room, Auden, Saint, Becket, Poe). But it also had scenes like the one when Saint goes to Auden for fashion advice which was sooooo sweet and beautiful.
Overall, I will definitely recommend this series to erotica, dark academia lovers who are maybe looking for something a little bit different than the cookie cutter, run of the mill smut.

2.5 1st read

Why did it have to end…
…like that???

Obviously spoilers ahead, so tread carefully!

I have been saving Door of Bruises for so long after its release last November, but I could only make it 3 months before diving in.

I want to preface this by saying that the only thing I wanted from this book and the end of the series was for Auden and Saint to end up together (no Poe) and even though it might seem I got what I wanted, I didn’t particularly enjoy how I got there.

Auden/Saint/incest
When the incest issue appeared at the end of book 2 it totally blew me away, did not expect Simone to go down that road. As I’ve stated before, I am completely against incest and yes, even fictional! That goes without saying, I can’t believe I have to actually write it down. Who would be pro incest?? I don’t want to offend anyone, but this is not even debatable to me.
After my initial shock passed, I realised that it was just a trick to create drama and keep Auden and Saint apart. I didn’t particularly care for it, but I’ll admit it created a lot of angst, and led to some of their best scenes together. I still cringed thinking about what they did when they believed they were brothers, but I remember thinking “It’s OK, all will be revealed in Door of Bruises and they will have hot, celebratory sex when they find out they aren’t related, it will build up to something epic, surely.”
But that wasn’t the case, now was it??

I still can’t believe that Simone left the issue of incest unresolved. I personally feel cheated and I didn’t care for it at all. I read somewhere that she did it to satisfy both the pro-incest readers and the anti-incest readers by giving a Schrodinger's cat type of ending, i.e. maybe they were or maybe they weren’t brothers, who’s to know?
WE! We are to know! The freaking readers! So you’re telling me that we, the anti-incesters, who spent time and money reading and liking something that might glamorize something we don’t condone, should be ok with it? Absolutely not, I don’t accept it. I demand resolution for something this serious. I need to know that I haven’t been supporting it all this time.

What's more, the explanation Simone chose to give negates the whole plot of the series:
Saint decides to be with Auden because all of a sudden DNA results don’t matter, only his love for him matters. Then why did you spend 2.5 books torn up about it, brooding, crying and hating yourself, if it didn’t matter in the end? Even worse, was Auden’s ridiculous ultimatum, that Saint should yes to being with Auden regardless of DNA results, or he is not giving himself over completely. Um, sorry for having reservations about fucking one’s brother, Auden. How ridiculous! It infuriated me to no end.
All this could have easily been avoided, if Saint read that stupid DNA results. But he refused to do it, not even many, many, years later, and that for me was just shitty. And it was for that reason that I couldn’t even find it in my heart to celebrate their ending up together, the only thing I ever wanted.

I loved you Auden and Saint, and I will always remember you as you were in Book 2. Too bad your story had to end this way.

I have to say though, Chapter 9 (those who know, KNOW!) left me an emotional wreck. Hands down the best scene in the book. And it was the best scene BECAUSE I was expecting it to be accompanied by the emotional relief and catharsis in the end. But seeing that we were denied all that, I am not even sure that scene meant anything at all anymore.

Poe
Still as insignificant as she was in Book 2 and 3. She had very few interactions with Saint and never just the two of them. I didn’t buy for a second that they loved each other as much as they claimed. The way I see it, they were together because they both wanted Auden, and Auden wanted both of them. Otherwise, the chemistry they had in Book 1 was long gone.
I have to give it to her though, she was the only one brave and level-headed enough to do what she did in the end. She drank the rose tea in order to cross through the other side, still stay alive there but never return in the mortal realm and save everyone else in the process. It was brilliant and such a selfless, kind act on her part.
The sex at the end with her, still in her early 20s, and Auden and Saint in their late 40s was totally gross, sleazy and cheap. Not because of the age difference per se, but it just felt forced, squeezing in one last quickie before the end. Why? There was plenty of smut in these books, pleeeeenty! Their reunion was supposed to be this emotional, magical thing. Why ruin it with badly written 1 page sex? Unnecessary, and a bummer note to end on.

Rebecca/Delphine
Like in Harvest of Sighs, I didn’t get these two. I completely got Rebecca’s absolute Domme vibe and Delphine makes for a good sub I guess. But them being in love? Not really. Like I said in HOS, too late in the game Simone decided to develop their relationship and it was just not believable to me. This time, she focuses more on Rebecca as she struggles to forgive Delphine for cheating. I did believe the dichotomy of her feelings but I just didn’t get why there had to be one in the first place. Why force another love story? Rebecca is a strong, rigid Domme. Leave her be! Why must everybody be part of a couple?
Delphine was a dumb, blonde influencer in this one. I’m sorry, but it’s true. Everything that came out of her mouth was stupid and I can’t believe that she was once engaged to Auden, which I had completely forgotten by the way.
Their relationship didn’t amount to anything for me, it was just there as a filler. They could just have a Dom-Sub relationship and nothing more, and I would have been absolutely fine with it.
The second-best scene in the book though belongs to Rebecca, when she sees the wren through the door. What a magical scene, downright mystical; it will always stay with me.

Beckett
Oh sweet, sweet Beckett. What did they do to you? I knew he was going to get a horrible ending, and I was right on the money. A poor attempt at self-sacrifice that didn’t fool anyone, a, granted, very erotic scene, albeit out of nowhere, and an ending he was not even a part of. He was an outsider for a long time now and his ending shouldn’t surprise me, but damn. I feel like he had so much potential and Simone did him dirty. Farewell, neglected and under-utilised character.

Writing/plot
Writing was as good as it was in the previous 3 books, nothing changed there. For me, that was the whole appeal of the books; the gripping writing. I might not have liked what I was reading, but I sure loved how it was written.

Overall
What a trip this series has been!
I have to admit, it started out pretty rocky for me. I hated Lesson in Thorns, I found it absolutely absurd and over the top. I mean, they were 22 year old virgins, with an immense sexual appetite who, after not seeing each other for 10 years, they want to bone each other instantly. It sounds ridiculous, I know.
But what you have to remember with this series is that you have to buy into it. To get over the absurdity, I had to constantly think that the reason why they are so attracted to each other and want to have sex with each other all the time, is because of the Thornchapel curse. If it wasn't for that, they probably would have been “normal”-ish people, with a few kinks here and there. So, I personally had to buy into this paranormal concept, otherwise I wouldn’t have made it, since obviously dark erotica isn't my cup of tea.
I wish I could love the ending more, but I just couldn’t get past the incest (and other things). Don’t get me wrong, I was sad when it ended and the book high was strong with this one. When I came down from it though, I saw things more clearly and no matter what my previous issues with the series were, I definitely think it deserved a better ending.

[Ashlee » libraryinthecountry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am wrecked, but also completely sated. We shall call this the Auden Guest Treatment, folks.

This story is wild and magical and atmospheric and at times so desperately longing to break free from the pages that contain it, it’s impossible to truly encapsulate everything I feel after finishing it. But I am overwhelmed, not just because of how touchingly perfect the ending is, but also because this is my goodbye to Thornchapel, after being with this series from the very beginning.

It feels like a blessing to have the chance to open these books and step through the door into this world’s waiting embrace. Like cozying up in darkened library, lit only by the glow of the fireplace. Protected, sheltered and cocooned within its raw, ancient power.

Convivicat.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hold The Door
*arc generously provided by the promo team in exchange for an honest review*

This series ends with an incredible installment. Everything I wanted, I received. I was entertained, scared and so invested in this freaking ending! What did you do to me, Sierra Simone?!?!!?? I can't say anything else other than if you loved the previous books, you'll love this, too. One last hurray for one of my favorite line-ups of characters of 2020! Don't let anybody spoil it for you. Go in blind and enjoy the hell out of it!

ORIGINAL COMMENT
Oh fuck! This comes second place after Nyla's TBIBR for breaking me with its ending. Ugh! What a mood. WHAT A MOOD. These characters. Holy shit.

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[ash | · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Lesson in Thorns 5/5 ★
Feast of Sparks 4/5 ★
Harvest of Sighs 2/5 ★

The way this cover just snapped!

[Michelle Claypot_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an ending!! I had a feeling that this story would be epic, I mean the series was so decadent and beautifully erotic how could it not be?

But this book, the way she wraps up the complicated tale of these characters. I was blown away. I literally couldn’t put it down. I binged it hard. Ignoring my family and real world obligations to lose myself with these characters.

I‘m not saying any more. Buy the series. Read the series. Then message me so we can gush about its awesomeness together!!

I received an arc of this book.

[Ria | Abstract ♥ Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

ALL MY REVIEWS CAN BE FOUND ON MY BLOG: ABSTRACT BOOKS





I still remember how much I loved the first book of this series and how crazy I went to want to see how this amazing storyline unfolded!! All the characters are perfect and what I can say confidently is that this series ended even more beautifully than it started!! The ending was perfect and it was everything I hoped it would be!

After that ending of the third book , I got the hint that this ending would not be perfect for all our dear characters , but just prayed for the author to have mercy on our souls!! I love all these characters and they are gonna stay with me for a long long time.

I won't disclose much about the storyline but I can tell you that if you love a suspenseful take with a lot of kinky times , then don't hesitate to jump into this one!! It's sinfully delicious and there is no chance that you won't love it!!




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[Amy [Book Addict Reviews] · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not prepared for Door of Bruises. This book was so much more than I expected and from the moment I started I was completely sucked back into Thornchapel and all its mysteries.

Door of Bruises took me on an emotional journey. It backs up where things have left in Harvest of Sighs and the group is broken up. It is hard to review this book without giving away so many details. If you haven’t read any of the series I HIGHLY RECOMMEND reading it and if you have read it then this book will slowly wrap everything up. It is full of suspense, mystery, rituals and all the steaminess that was in previous books.

The writing of this story is truly beautiful and magical. There is so much to love about this story and I know that it is one that I will reread from start to finish to experience it all over again.

If you’re looking to be transported to a world of mystery, ancient rituals and plenty of heat the Thornchapel series is a MUST READ.

[SusanAhh · Rating 5 out of 5]

“But I do know this: all of Thornchapel is a threshold of sorts, and when you are there, you are one too. I became a gate, a tabernacle, and an altar. A holiness of lanky limbs and angry lust, and a hallow of ink-stained fingers and unmet needs.”

I suppose, if I really wanted to do it, I could do the traditional reviewer thing and give you an overview of what you might expect concerning plot, character development etc… I also may be somewhat trite in my expressing that this story deserves more than that. Because let’s face it, I am an enthusiastic reader and lover of romance. I am also a softie when it comes to assigning stars. I also must admit I am rusty in my writing. With all this nonsense said about me out of the way. I entreat you, dear friend, to hear me when I say that this last book is an “extra” ordinary finale to a series that plumbs the depth of belief, faith, love in a mystical and mysterious modern fairytale, sprinkled liberally with eroticism and kinky expressions of love. It is a masterful ending to what I consider a virtuosic feat of complex thematic storytelling.
Before I continue with my thoughts, I need to applaud Ms. Simone for not only having written such a lush, compelling, weighty, full-bodied saga, but also for having done so knowing that it would probably be (what she describes in her own words); “A series that made no commercial or career sense to write. A series that didn't really match Priest or New Camelot, a series that was maybe, ah, less than mainstream, we could say.” Thank you Sierra Simone and all who supported you in your inspiration and subsequent resulting masterpiece series. There’s a beautiful integrity in a work written solely for the sake of the artist exercising her talent in telling an inspired story to move hearts, delight senses and memories and inspire thinking.
Most romance readers can tell when they are being manipulated by the usual “marketable tropes”…and if done well, we often welcome the escape. And while such lovely escape is found in this book in inventive, scorching hot scenes that will leave your body shaken and head spinning, there is a foundation of deep, primal, mysticism and “truth” underneath all that heat. There is even questioning of what is the “truth” and how much of it can we actually comprehend. Ah the joys in the mystery of existence!

“This is symbolic thinking we’re dealing with, and unfamiliar symbolic thinking at that, and symbolic thinking is entirely different from reasoning, it’s entirely different from the kind of rationale that we would use to build a supermarket.”

Speaking through the voice of a secondary character to the six main characters, the author gives us a clue to one of the languages she is using to tell us this story and the meaning it portends. This is the Thorn King, Auden’s book. He is faced with the need to close a door that has opened to another world or dimension which opened when Auden and his coterie celebrated pagan rites during Lammas.
There is a growing profusion of black roses around the Thorn Chapel near the opened door at an impossible time of year. The history of death and disease seemingly associated with previous appearances of the opened door makes it an ominous, yet compelling mystery. Thornchapel calls those who separated and scattered after Lammas back to each other and the place that has claimed them when they were children. The Thorn King needs to learn how to be a king even if this means giving his life to close the door to protect his kin and kingdom.

“And I feel like a king now when I walk to the door to die for my friends. There is power in this kind of submission. A power that means every part of me can be used for good—even the parts of me that would eat the world raw if left untrammeled. And maybe that is the lesson of the Year King, of the Babylonian kings who were slapped during Akitu, of monarchs who kneel to be anointed. Power must come with humility. They cannot be picked apart. They should not. I will not.”

There is multifold symbolism in the black rose. It could denote the undertaking of a long and arduous journey but also hope for what is awaiting at the journey’s end. It may represent the hope of a miracle. It could also represent bidding farewell to someone. Additionally, it can represent accomplishment or deference to someone. The fragrance of the rose itself is associated with holiness (The "odor of sanctity" is a phenomenon attributed to a miraculous fragrance coming from a holy person, such as a saint.)
The black roses are the bruises on or from this ominous open “door”. These roses are first described in the book as the color of a “freshly turned bruise” by a 17 year-old Auden who found one growing near the Thorn Chapel in the deep of winter. (Which reminded me of a favorite Christmas Hymn which appeared in Cologne, Germany in 1599, "Lo, how a rose e'er blooming". The meaning of this for me is a whole other discussion from which I will refrain.) Auden speaks often of bruising and needing to bruise his lovers.

“Surely it is hard enough to be one person, one whole person, who loves like normal people love, but to be this— to be the teeth in the dark and the hands that soothe— and to not even be that properly? Because I want to hold everyone I love inside me and hollow myself out so they can nestle right against my bloody ribs, but how can I trust myself to do that? Why should anyone trust me to do that when I know exactly what kind of man I am, what bruises I long to leave?”

I submit to you that while “bruises” and “bruising” are often associated with injury and harm, there is another connotation to the concept of bruising that one can consider. Bruising as it relates to spices and herbs. One bruises these culinary ingredients to release their flavor, their goodness. Is this “door” then bruising this plane of existence to offer some flavor, goodness, perhaps even, truth to the six in whom Thornchapel has woven its mysteries into their very existence?
Our main characters determine that while the door is open, it will not be penetrable until the pagan feast Samhain,. The eve of Samhain is now commonly known as Halloween (All Hallow’s Eve). Christians celebrate the day of Samhain as All Saint’s day. Traditionally, the night of All Hallow’s Eve is associated with celebrating the Ancestors. It is a time when the veil between our world and the next is considered to be at its thinnest.
Samhain, itself, contributes unique allegory and metaphor which underpins the love stories in this series. Samhain is a time to welcome the dissolution of illusions and false certainties in which we have invested our intellect and heart. This is a mysterious path that can frighten one because of the uncertainties and the “unknowable” it represents. As too, does the “door” represent the unknowable the uncertain. Is it malevolent or benevolent? Which brings me to a brief…very brief discussion of the significance of quantum theory mentioned twice in this last book.
Scholars in the past thought they had the world figured out when they envisioned it an intricately woven mechanical device…similar to a clock. All things eventually knowable when the formula or engineered design elements could be parsed and discovered…until Quantum theory disabused all serious scholars of that particular illusion. It seems that the mere duality of matter…wave or particle or wave or particle was just the beginning of the discovery of the wonderful, absolute weirdness of the world and universe. The possibilities are endless. For all that we claim to know and understand, fundamentally, we really do not understand anything. Reality, life and death are mysterious, mystical, frightening?, reassuring? So, too, the “Door of Bruises”… a quantum level mystery?
I believe while our author beautifully illustrates in this saga, the mysteries of existence and the uncertainties we live with at the core of ourselves, she suggests that along with the quantum nature of all things is the quantum nature of love.

“Her father had been right—love was quantum. Love was multi-dimensional, alchemical, complex, and the alternative was void, the frozen absolute zero of the deepest space. Nothingness. If vulnerability, if trust and intimacy, brought the risk of pain with it—well. Wasn’t that better than a life at zero degrees Kelvin, feeling nothing, loving nothing, unharmed maybe, but unknown and unseen to anyone? Wasn’t it better to be known? Better to be seen?"

These are but a few of the ideas I discovered which were sparked by this masterful writer.
It should be clear at this point just how much I recommend this book and this series to you. It is intriguing, entertaining and nourishment for your soul. Even if you disagree with my assessment of the symbolism, there is a great storyline and wonderful character development with an array of very intriguing and swoon-worthy characters. Did I mention it was scorching? Fire, my friends, just fire!

[Grecia Robles · Rating 4 out of 5]

OH MY GUCCI!!
Vaya final

ADVERTENCIA: Va a contener spoilers

Este es el cuarto libro y final de la serie con una historia bastante fuera de lo común.
Es una historia llena de intriga, misterios, mitología, leyendas de las cuales los protagonistas forman parte y van descubriendo poco a poco.
No puedo dar detalles de la historia porque ni yo la entiendo.

Este libro es mi favorito de los 4 por simple hecho de estar narrado en su mayor parte por Auden mi personaje favorito, un hombre que ama profunda e intensamente, que es protector y leal HE IS A KING.
Por el valió la pena leer esta serie. A lo largo de esta también vemos la dramática relación con St. Sebastian que como me hizo sufrir a mi Auden con su terquedad, su cobardía y falta de decisión, el otro casi se arranca el corazón para dárselo y éste lo rechazaba.
El amor de Auden y St. Sebastian es demasiado angsty y yo lo único que quería era que Auden fuera feliz con él porque era palpable su amor tenían demasiada química y mucha historia y sentía que Proserpina estaba demás en esa relación nunca me creí su amor hacia ella más bien era como una adición más a su relación sexual más no indispensable para que fueran felices.

Yo deseaba que ella muriera para que los dejara en paz porque era un estorbo, Proserpina nunca me cayó bien era bien mosquita muerta que nomás se quería acostar con todo el mundo y tampoco sentí el amor de ella hacia ellos sólo lujuría.

Rebecca y Delphine me daban igual la verdad es que no me interesaba nada de ellas, eso sí Delphine se merecía a alguien mejor que Rebecca.

Por último Becket, no entiendo para que estaba, la verdad que no hizo nada sólo fue un personaje más, aunque fue parte de una de las escenas más pervertida y hot del libro el trio que hizo con Auden y St Sebastian OMG, no me lo esperaba y nunca había leído una escena MMM.

Y el final me gustó mucho porque fue algo que yo deseaba a Auden y St. Sebastian juntos sin Proserpina al menos algunos años pero no importa porque pudieron casarse Auden lo pudo por fin presumir y que todo el mundo supiera que lo amaba.
Amé ese epílogo mega largo.

A pesar de que sigue siendo muy pervertido, kinky, no hay tantas escenas de sexo como en los anteriores, hay más intriga, suspenso y muchos elementos de fantasía que le dieron un toque diferente.

[Karen]

Well, I need the signed series already!

[Sue Ouellet-Cofsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sierra Simone's words, her prose, her poetry are capable of drawing you into a world that she has built. It is vivid imagery and felt emotions unlike almost anything you've read. In an email months ago, she mentioned that she wasn't sure how many of her readers would hate her when reading this story. I can see how she would fear that. It is an emotionally draining story, a sit in the edge of your seat, biting your nails story. A yell at the Kindle NOOOO story. But at the end of it, the story of our kinky, beautiful six characters ends exactly the way it should, if not exactly the way we'd hoped. Much of the book is highlighted on my end because much of what Sierra writes is so profound and so indicative of our current world. It deserves more than the five stars I've given it.

[Radd Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.
The final installment in the Thornchapel series.

The following are my thoughts:

- This book had much more Thornchapel intrigue, which I really enjoyed.

- As in keeping with other books, there is definitely some taboo and wowza......some pretty scorching scenes 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

- Did I get all the answers I wanted.......no

- Did that bother me.......not much. And honestly, I was sure I wouldn't be able to like this story without the Auden / Saint question answered (and in the way I wanted it to be answered). In the end, it didn't matter to me. That's some good writing that can make me be ok with that issue.

- Did I care about all the characters......no. I still wasn't invested in Rebecca & Delphine. And I still say Beckett was somewhat written out of the story and forgotten. He was more present in this book than the last one, but still, he ended up fading into the background. I think it would have been better to just have a story with the focus on 3 main characters and then a few side characters. And, if that would have happened, then book 3 could have been skipped completely (which I gave 2 stars).

- I cried.....the last chapter and the epilogue was emotional and heartbreaking at times.

- The ending.....I'm pretty happy with the ending. It seemed fitting.

Overall, the series had a few bumps in the road. The incessant inner dialogue in previous books drove me a little nuts, the Auden / Saint relationship took a turn I didn't like, some of the characters got lost or seemed to become inconsequential, the books were a little long and seemed to drag in spots and the Thornchapel intrigue seemed like a rushed afterthought a few times. But this book brought everything together and I thought it was a great ending to the Thornchapel saga.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woah.. This was quite the conclusion to a very captivating series.

[Deanna❤Pink Lady❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beautiful, mysterious, ominous, erotic story comes to an end and oh what a glorious ending it was. You can not read this story without the prior 3 books. It is a magnificent journey of love and sacrifice intertwined with kink, friendship, and Convivificat. The Fab 6.... Auden, Proserpina, Saint Sebastian, Rebecca, Becket, and Delphine will embed themselves in your heart as you travel their austerious journey in Thornchapel.

The writing of Sierra Simone is simply magical and breathtaking. She has such a special way of writing and storytelling that completely captures your spirituality and emotions. If you are in need of a magical journey of passion, sensuality and mystical elements, I definitely recommend this series!!

*advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

[giulia ♡❁ུ۪ · Rating 4 out of 5]

poe, saint and auden! that’s it, that’s the review

[Claudie ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This final volume was fantastic. It was everything I hoped for and more. I’m not sure what my friend Jan will have to say about some of the plot twists (can’t wait to read her thoughts, though!), but personally, I loved the supernatural turn this series took in book 3 (and in book 2, if you looked closely enough 😉), which was wonderfully expanded here. It was an unexpected treat for me, because I’m crazy about all things fantasy. It makes everything better, and this story was no exception. 😍

I really liked the way all the MCs had to work for their personal HEAs. Easy solutions are such a bore in books! I like my characters well and truly tortured every once in a while… 😈 And this series delivers SO well on that front. It’s full of angsty goodness and great sex scenes.

I’d love nothing more than to give this whole series — or at least the last two books — 5 stars and add it to my ‘favorites’ list, but I won’t. I can’t. And I’m so PISSED about that!


Dear Sierra Simone,

I don’t know if you check your readers’ reviews, but in case you do, here’s my personal message to you: You’re an amazing writer. This wonderful, complex story sucked me right in, because you made it into so much more than erotica (even though you write great smut, too, and I don’t say that lightly). But I’m also so angry with you, so sad and disappointed. Because there's so much wasted opportunity here — you created six terrific, authentic main characters, six complicated individuals, and then you made EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM catholic.

WHY? Why did you do that? Becket’s character aside, you could’ve made even ONE of the remaining five an atheist, an agnostic, a Jew, a Buddhist, a hippie — whatever you wanted. Or alternatively, you could’ve simply left the topic of religion ALONE — because it didn’t really add anything to the main story, and having all those little bible quotes crammed down my throat was an extremely unpleasant experience for me. The spontaneous discussions about random bible verses (which ALL of them knew by heart) were rather disturbing, too.

I’d check out your other work, but I’m scared it’d be more of the same, and I won’t suffer through that again. I just wanted to let you know that you offend a lot of people with your bias (I don’t want to say discrimination, which was my first thought), ruining otherwise perfectly enjoyable books, losing readers — and for what? Promoting catholicism? Religion kink?

Try as I might, I don’t understand that. I just hope that if you read this, you’ll think about religious minorities and non-believers before creating a new set of uniformly catholic characters. We're out there, and we're people, too.

[AJ's book-reMarks · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Door of Bruises is the amazing conclusion of the Thornchapel Series. Sierra Simone takes her readers through some old pagan/druid rituals that evolve over centuries. The story picks up after everyone left Thornchapel, but they seem to be returning on their own. The odd color roses so dark red their almost black in color and are growing all over Thornchapel, taking over everything and now encroaching through the village. The elusive door to the chapel opens, and they are all trying to close the door. The reunion and research come with lots of kinky sex. The ending was not what I was expecting but done in Sierra's spectacular unique way! Below are some of my favorite lines.

"Doubt isn't permission."
"When you turn hesitation into relief, into eagerness, when you turn fear into pleasure"
"Desire is not forgiveness"
"Loving someone is....... It's quantum, It's subjective & alchemistic, & impossible to see with the naked eye, and even more impossible to explain."

[Cee Cee Houston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Six people, six loves. One ending!!

I remember thinking, in the early spring of last year (March 2019) that a story revolving around six people was either going to be terrible or amazing. I needn't have feared. It was more than amazing. It was a superbly written, mind-blowningly starburst of wonderment and decadence. Reveraence and seduction. Lust and love.
Multiple narrators and storylines are, after all, Sierra Simone’s forte, and she stepped up to the plate when she wrote this 4 part series, which finishes with Door Of Bruises.
It’s been an emotional, spine-tingling, hot and sexy ride throughout the whole four books. The culmination built steadily with each installment and now at the end, it will tear you apart one final time before resurrecting you with a thankful sigh and a smile on your face.
If you have the time -or heaven forbid, you haven’t started the ‘Thornchapel’ series yet (WHYEVER NOT??)- binge read the whole set now. It’ll be so much better that way.

[FS Meurinne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This finale torn me apart, the whole series is a masterpiece, you mind will be blown, so many questions and yet not enough, Going into the series I knew it was going to be a ride of a lifetime, every book I have read so far by Sierra Simone has, they are in their own category. The story will intertwine in your mind, will have you feeling like you are in the middle of the ocean with waves crashing over you from all sides, yet you keep reading. I can't really say more about this book as I don't want to give anything away, but let's be real, if you are reading the summary for this book, either you already have read the previous ones an of course you must read this one, or you want to see if the whole series is worth reading, my answer is yes, if you know Sierra Simone you know her writing, if you are discovering her, well strap yourself and star reading. Brilliant 5 stars, definitely a WTF did I just read series that is totally worth every page.

[Jenn (The Book Refuge) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always.. I am sad, happy, crying, horny, in pain and I feel very confused..

But this was a really beautiful story. I just.. I don't get it maybe?

But feelings...

And... yeah.. I'm still crying

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie's Book Reports.

We are all, for better or worse, doomed to love each other until death do us part. My heart belongs to Proserpina and St. Sebastian-even if he no longer wants it. Even is she has left it behind to follow him. Delphine's fled home, and Becket's holy calling is in peril. And now only Rebecca and I remain at Thornchapel to face the unknown. The door is open. The door that shouldn't exist; the door that people have died to close. I don't fell like the lord of the manor. ..I don't feel like a king or wild god. I'm a friend and a boyfriend and a brother-and failure at being all of these things. But the door doesn't care about my guilt. It only cares about the sacrifice I'll make to close it. As the bruising dark of Samhain approaches, so does the fate of our circle, of Thronchapel and the village and the valley beyond it. And I must don the crown, because on thing is still true, even if I must face it alone.

I just don't know that I have enough words for the conclusion to this series. It is everything that you need for it to be and so much more. This story has a lot going on in it and many characters and you have to read the first three books before you dive into this one. I don't even think that lost would describe how you would be in this book. This series is so good though that I don't know why you haven't read the first three already. This is the book where you get all the kink, the characters are so connected that you don't know where one stops and another begins. A surprise ending that will leave you reeling I think. There are some serious plot twists that will blow your mind. Secrets revealed and again the kink. This was one great book and I am so sad the series has ended but I am so glad that I got to read it all.

[Catherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

4 books for THIS? I enjoyed most of the series, though I could see its flaws...but THIS is the final book?

Okay. Spoilers and a rant ahead.
👇👇👇

This comes down to the author losing her touch with this particular series & being unwilling to make cuts. Not just scenes - characters & storylines that are CLEARLY not working at the time & not going to work at all.
I DO maintain that the couples needed to be rearranged & the incest storyline - which was constantly excused & never fully addressed in a satisfactory way - shouldn't have happened at all. It's a lazy, icky way to build tension between characters when, well...there are so many other ways to make people resent/hate each other while also loving them.

Delphine has been painfully irrelevant since book 1 & needed to be cut right after she broke her engagement to Auden. All of her actions & lines have been cringeworthy (not to diminish the healing from sexual assault storyline, but it really added nothing to the story since I didn't/couldn't care about her character at all since it was irrelevant to the main events/characters. it was just a chore to get through) and she served no purpose. Somehow I knew when she was chosen as lord in book 1 that that disappointment would continue.

What SHOULD have happened - Delphine should have been cut early in the series. Goodbye. Saint & Becket should have been endgame from the beginning because that would have been all the necessary sad gay tension without the gross factor, & honestly their characters would have been perfect together and no one would have been sidelined to the overall detriment of the series. Auden & Rebecca should have warred as two doms over Poe for incredible, lasting tension that had a good base & good reasoning. I just...progressing through this series was one letdown after another.

And Thornchapel. What the fuck happened. It's supposed to be this mystery that builds on itself that we get to solve and the author just completely dropped the fucking ball. The estate and gothic vibes were dropped and completely sidelined (wow, like over half the cast!!) in favor of focusing on Auden and Saint being sad and Delphine cluttering space that should have been taken by relevant characters who are NOT the two main boys the author insisted on hyperfocusing on. "We're supposed to be three uwu" are you SURE? Then where is POE??

Other flaws besides the GLARING SYSTEMATIC ONES throughout all the books:
-stilted dialogue
-heavy handed religious metaphors: cool at first, but overused
-the sex scenes in this book were very meh, lacking all tension and taste and honestly they got annoying early on compared to the other books and the powerhouse that was A Lesson in Thorns. Again, the incest factor was very focused on even though I was doing my best to erase it from my memory. Why even include a diverse cast with potential - except for Delphine - if you're just going to focus on the m/m ship alone. 🙄

OVERALL - I can't with this series. I was so excited to discover it and it fell through quite horribly. Maybe if she had not forgotten about the other characters (and the fucking setting itself, ya know, the whole gothic fantasy vibes) the whole thing would have gone better even though my ships didn't sail. I recommend it to no one and I am done with this author since she clearly doesn't know how to write a series on this scale. 😑

[Brigid Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I. Have. No. Words. Like how can I possibly do this MASTERPIECE justice??? Sierra Simone is an absolute Queen of the written word!!

Door of Bruises, like the previous three books, grabbed me from page one. But I read it slowly because I wanted to understand every single thing that was going on in the lives of the Thornchapel Six. There is a lot!! There is a mystical and spiritual happenings, there is love and forgiveness, and there are some seriously HOT AF sex scenes *fans self*. There was just so much to FEEL while reading this. The true mark of a brilliant author, IMO, is making readers feel the characters. Hands down she did this. I times I was scared as to how this story would play out but I shouldn't have had any doubts, while not the typical HEA, it is perfect!!!

[Basic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Door of Bruises is book 4, in the Thornchapel series, and must be read in order.

Sexually charged, emotionally and mentally debilitating, yet heat racing and scandalous.

I am astounded and in awe of this series. It’s everything I needed, without ever knowing it was exactly what I needed! Thank you mystical forces of the old ways!

Door of Bruises picks up where Harvest of Sighs (book 3) left off. At the mansion with one sad and heart broken Rebecca, and one utterly crushed Auden. Though the call of the chapel, has everyone back where they belong in no time, even if it’s not where they want to be, it’s where they need to be.

With Samhain fast approaching, the group at odds with one another, and fear of the unknown wrecking havoc, can the door be closed before damage is permanent and unforgivable?!

I love every one of these characters. Everyone has their unique charm, combined with hearing everyone’s own POV, that makes me fall in love with them.

After everything these 6 have been through, Door of Bruises is the perfect conclusion.